Friday, July 15, 2011

The End for Harry Potter?

The End for Harry Potter?

Good Friday Morning, Dan Wells writing, I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits!

Today the final installment of the "Harry Potter" movie series hits theaters all over the Tri-State. I know you're probably thinking Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is just a movie or part of a book series but for millions it's actually the end of an era.

I guess you can call me a Harry Potter fan and here's a little bit of why!

Harry Potter is not your typical hero. Unlike action movies where the hero would be inundated with gunfire and never get shot, Harry a "boy wizard" is actually a relatable character that you grow up with. He is flawed. He is human. He's weak at times, but he never gives up.

If Harry Potter rubs you the wrong way, don't worry, you have the likable Ron Weasley or the bookworm Hermione Granger to keep you company. The books and movies present you (young or old alike) with a plethora of characters with which you can relate - or at least a part of you does.

What I guess I really like about this series is reading (as in the act itself) the Harry Potter books instilled the joy of doing so in millions. Who would have thought buying an 800 pages book would be the only thing a teenager would think about day and night until they had their hands on the books?

Now if you're reading this blog and thinking I'm not "sold" on seeing or reading kid books, let me tell you the world of Harry Potter is not just some world where everything is happy. It's a place where things can go wrong and when they do, the conflicts are not easily solved. The story details the loss of people you love. You get betrayed. But you can always recover.

Sure, the series is fiction but it's also full of life lessons that remind even a youthful reporter to always have faith!

For some, today means the end of a series of 8 movies, for me it is the end of a journey that started with the first book about 10 years ago. So was it worth it? You bet it was worth it.

Bottom line: If you haven't checked out these books, do so, they are well worth the time and escape.